The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-01-14

A Queer Story "a to His Relations with
Crook.


Geronimo tells n most peculiar story
of his relations with Gen. Crook. The
old Indian would, no doubt. have glad
" unbosomed himself to the Times
correspondent. as he was in pleasant
frame of mind and seemingly perfectly
willing tn talk, but he can not speak n
word of English. Only the outline of
the story has leaked out. as the scouts
and interpreters ut the San Antonio
post have received strict orders to MAIN
tain silence on the subject Before this
order was given, however, one Of the
scouts TO whom Geronimo had told the
story related it to several persons, and
the soldiers at the post not only know
about it but believe it. The story is
that, about four months ago. Immediate
ly after the arduous business of captur-
ing Geronimo was taken out Of the
hands of Gen. Crook and turned over to
Gen. Miles. Geronimo captured his
parsuer. He did not proceed to extremi-
ties, as Gen. Crook promised that he
might make one more raid into Mexico
and then return to the reservation in
peace. At the time Geronimo claims to
have captured Gen. Crook tho latter
had small army under his command
in comparison with the forces of Geron-
limo. The latter began his spring cam
paign with forty-tive Chiricahuas. Three
of these were shot, and Capt Lawton
captured and brought to the San Anto-
Mo post seventeen bucks. nine squaws
and five children. Ten of Geronimo's
band left him before the end of the
campaign, so that this accounts for all
but one, a papoosc. The latter was
born few days after the capture of
the band, and while it was en- route on
horseback to this place.
The father of the papoosc is Geroni-
mos son. Geronimo had the mother,
father, and papooso brought for the in
spection of the Times correspondent
The father of the copper-colorcd infant
is stoutlooking fellow, hardly more
than a boy, and he seemed immensely
pleased when Geronimo pointed first at
him, then at the papoose. The mother
seated herself on. the grass and directed
all her attention 10 the papoose. The
latter was in an Indian cradle, and
nothing of it was visible but its face.
This the mother kissed repeatedly. She
seemed perfectly oblivious of her strange
surroundings, aud while she remained
i'm sight never ceased to lavish cndesr-
ments on her child. The experience of
this Indian wife is not common even
among the wild tribes OF the southwest.
She gave birth to her child while the
band was being hurried to San ANTONIO
ut the rate of ninety miles day. The
birth caused delay of few inmates.
The Indians seemed to consider it a
matter worthy of little attention and
the soldicrs had little pity in their
hearts for Indians-bucks or sQ1aws.
Within few minutes after the birth of
the child the mother was on the back of
baby in cradle strapped to her back.
She kept her place in the cortcge, and
on the following day rode ninety miles.
Geronimo is G2 years of age, stands
about feet $ inches, and weighs 100
pounds. His figure is as straight as the
barrel of his own Winchester, and were
his face not considerably drawn he
would show no signs of age. His eyes
are small. black. and bright, and his
hair long, black, and glossy. 1t is Gaze
fully cOmbed down on one side OF his
face and kept in place by handker-
chief bound across his forehead. All
the bucks wear their hair ia this fash
ion. In spite of Geronimo's bad reputa-
ton he has not "A bad face. 1t is rather
good-natured, and lac smiled continual
" while his visitor was attempting to
make himself understood. He was not
satisfied until he had introduced his
entire family to the Times correspond
cnt The family consists of his brother
and son. the lattcrs wife, and her pa
poose. Geronimo's brother looks like
him, but is younger, and has finer
face. Geronimo is not the chief, though
he is the ruler of tho Chirieahnas. TIE
real chief is Natchez, n tall, powerful
looking Indian. San Antonio Cor. Neec
York Times.